Recent News

Outgoing State Senator Susan Paddack is ready, willing and able to take East Central University’s Oka’ Institute on its maiden voyage through water issues.

Paddack, who was elected to the Oklahoma State Senate (District 13) in 2004, now embarks on a new venture as she has been officially named executive director of the Oka’ Institute, which is designed to bridge the gap between sustainable water management and economic development. The word Oka’ means water in the Chickasaw and Choctaw languages.

East Central University’s first theatre production of the year, “Medea,” by Euripides and translated by Diane Arnson Svarlien, is scheduled for three performances, Oct. 6-8, in the Chalmers Herman Theatre of the Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center.

The performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 6, and Friday, Oct. 7, with a special matinee set for 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 8.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $9 for senior citizens and non-ECU students. ECU alumni receive a $1 discount and admission is free for all ECU students, faculty and staff with identification.

Brent Hill was crowned king and Sidney Lewis queen during halftime of East Central University’s Homecoming football game on Saturday, Sept. 24. Hill is a business accounting major from Wister and Lewis is an English major with teacher certification from Velma. Hill was representing the Business Leadership Association and Lewis was representing Zeta Tau Alpha.

Those attending East Central University’s Louise Young Diversity Lecture on Thursday, Sept. 29, will be able to purchase Yousef Khanfar’s most recent book, “Invisible Eve,” and get it personally signed by Khanfar following the lecture.

The lecture, free and open to the public, is set for 7 p.m. in the Ataloa Theatre of the Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center and the book signing will take place at approximately 8:30 p.m. in the Lockmiller Grand Lobby.

A seasoned comedian, actor, writer and producer, Reiser continues to add to his list of accomplishments. He co-created and starred in the critically acclaimed NBC series “Mad About You” which garnered him multiple Emmy, Golden Globe, American Comedy Award and Screen Actors Guild nominations. The series is now available in its entirety on DVD.

Billie Floyd, a longtime educator, Oklahoma state senator and civic leader, will serve as the grand marshal of East Central University’s 2016 Homecoming Parade on Saturday, Sept. 24, at 2 p.m. on Main Street in Ada.

The theme for this year’s homecoming is “Orange is the New You.”

The parade is one of many activities geared toward ECU alumni and friends as well as current ECU students, faculty and staff on Saturday.

Yousef Khanfar, award-winning and Palestine-American writer, photographer and humanitarian, will lead a panel discussion at East Central University’s Louise Young Diversity Lecture on Thursday, Sept. 29, at 7 p.m. in the Ataloa Theatre of the Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center.

Nine East Central University students were awarded funding under the NASA National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program for the 2016-2017 academic year.

Awards are in the form of $2,000 research stipends for the academic year. Undergraduate research gives students the necessary academic and life skills needed for graduate school, research positions or public and private sector STEM employment.

East Central University's mission is to foster a learning environment in which students, faculty, staff, and community
interact to educate students for life in a rapidly changing and culturally diverse society. Within its service area,
East Central University provides leadership for economic development and cultural enhancement.